A Conifer resident is offering a $5,000 reward for the return of his missing Boz Shepherd, a rare breed of dog with only a handful of known breeders in the United States.

Gino Pirri took out a full-page color ad on the back page of the June 4 Canyon Courier, a weekly area newspaper.

“First of all, he’s an expensive dog, but second of all he’s a family member,” Pirri said.

He suspects 11-week-old puppy, Hugo, was stolen when it disappeared May 23 from his backyard.

“I feel obligated to do it for the dog too,” Pirri said regarding his efforts to recover his dog. “But whoever stole this dog has no idea what they have their hands on.”

The Boz Shepherd dog breed originates from Turkey and is coveted for its large size and work ability, especially with livestock. They can grow up to 200 pounds and have been known to defend themselves against wolves and mountain lions, Pirri said. Puppies can cost $3,000-$4,000, as was the case with Hugo, who Pirri said he planned to breed.

Because of the nature of his disappearance, Pirri suspects the dog was stolen. The puppy was as loyal as a shadow, Pirri said, and with two other dogs in the yard at the time, it is unlikely he would have wandered away or was taken by wildlife.

Pirri said he has received a few tips from people who have seen his ad. His biggest concern is that whoever may have Hugo is ignorant of the rare breed’s characteristics and the training methods necessary to keep the dog from becoming aggressive.

“For his safety and other people’s safety,” Pirri said, “if you have a big dog, you have to be a responsible dog owner.”

Hugo is tan in color with a black muzzle and black paws. Perri’s ad says the dog’s dew claw, the raised toe on the back of its foot, is very low, making it appear that he has extra toes.

Josie Klemaier is part of the YourHub team as a reporter and page designer. She covers community news in Golden, Evergreen, Conifer and Morrison, as well as issues related to craft beer, the outdoors, history and culture. Klemaier studied journalism at Metropolitan State College of Denver and lives in the foothills in Jefferson County.

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